Search smh:

Search in:

Four new faces in Wallabies team to play Samoa

Sitaleki Timani has committed his international future to the Wallabies. The Waratahs forward had been named in Tonga's extended squad for the World Cup. Photo: Getty Images

Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom has been named to make his return to rugby alongside four newcomers in Australia’s team to face Samoa in their season-opening Test in Sydney on Sunday.

Elsom has played just one match since the Wallabies’ 2010 spring tour finale against France last November due to hamstring and ankle injuries.

But the blindside flanker will lead Australia into battle against the Pacific Islanders at ANZ Stadium after coach Robbie Deans today announced his first Test line-up of 2011.

Melbourne Rebels halfback Nick Phipps and NSW Waratahs lock Sitaleki Timani have both won selection in the starting XV, while the Queensland Reds pair of hooker James Hanson and flanker Beau Robinson were picked on the bench.

Advertisement

One front row position on the bench is still to be named after prop Benn Robinson tweaked his knee at training yesterday. Western Force prop Pek Cowan and NSW Waratahs prop Al Baxter were set to join the team at training on Wednesday afternoon.

Other features of the playing roster include a first Test start for Pat McCabe, who has been named at inside centre after finishing the Super Rugby season strongly in that position for the Brumbies.

McCabe has long been viewed as a midfield option by coach Deans and has been given his chance to work in tandem with fellow Brumbies Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper on either side of him.

Giteau has been given first shot at securing the five-eighth jersey while Ashley-Cooper returns to outside centre for the first time this year, having been largely employed on the wing at his Super Rugby franchise.

At halfback, Phipps has been handed his maiden Test start after first wearing the Wallabies jersey during the spring tour match against Irish province Munster.

He and returning fullback Mark Gerrard will become the first two players to represent the Rebels in the Australian Test side, with Gerrard to feature in his 24th Test but his first since the Wallabies’ win over Japan at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Dan Vickerman is also back. The NSW second rower, who has 55 Test caps to his name, has been named on the bench and will complete a remarkable comeback to international rugby after having taken three years out to finalise his studies in England.

In the second row, Timani will become the second member of his family to play Test rugby this year: his elder brother Sione has already represented Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup tournament.

While several stars are being rested, including Queensland captain James Horwill and five-eighth Quade Cooper, Deans says the decision was in no way disrespectful to Samoa, with a strong line-up being fielded.

‘‘Given the high most of those blokes had last weekend, it’s my experience that it does take a little while to come down from that,’’ he said.

‘‘They’ve refocused quickly on the task at hand representing their country, which is why we’ve included a good group of those players in the match-day 22.

47 comments so far

Ha Ha "Giteau given first shot at securing the Number 10 Jersey" give it up boys the Jersey belongs to QC and Giteau will struggle to get the any number in the 22. More like Cooper is being rested for the Tri Nations next week!

Commenter

RED FEVER

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

July 13, 2011, 12:15PM

I like the look of that team as a starting point with the majority of reds being rested - Giteau given a chance to prove he can be a viable second string to Quade - Pat McCabe deserves a shot - fast and straight running - thought Tapuai's form warranted inclusion in the 40, maybe next year? O' Conner to stay on the wing awesome in ball returns and kicking - the pack looks strong too. If you look at the depth of the squad its good in case of injury - The second row depth is there and whoever misses out will be unlucky, plenty of experience, youthful exuberance and power.Rockys injury - will he make it through the game? if not is that it for him?

Commenter

Darcy

Date and time

July 13, 2011, 12:27PM

Yes Cooper is being rested, but Giteau did find form toward the end of the Super 15. He remains a viable candidate at 12 and also for a bench position - particulary with Barnes's head being in the state that it is.

Commenter

Matt

Location

Sydney

Date and time

July 13, 2011, 12:32PM

Would have preferred the uncompromising style of Brett Sheehan as no. 3 halfback at test level and in a World Cup year. Great to see Pat McCabe given a shot at 12!Anyone know where Rob Horne is up to with his injury?

Commenter

Phil

Location

Sydney

Date and time

July 13, 2011, 12:37PM

"Deans says the decision was in no way disrespectful to Samoa, with a strong line-up being fielded."

The Wallabies will win by more than 50, however only 7 in the starting 15 would be first picked if this was a real Test match, with McCalman maybe the 8th (Cliffy may be ahead of him). I just hope Timani plays more than this one "test" and gets picked for the world cup. It would be greatly unfair if he is picked so he cannot represent Tonga, and then misses out on the WC.

Robinson's inclusion is phenomenal. Working in a pub in Qld after a year of personal family turmoil, and comes through as the form Australian 7 in the comp (Pocock is unbelievable and always first picked, granted, but missed a fair whack of super rugby) and earns a gold Jersey in tremendous.

Commenter

P-man

Location

Sydney

Date and time

July 13, 2011, 12:40PM

You've got to think that Hodgson and Beau Robinson are playing off for a bench spot as Pocock's backup. I assume they'll get a half each.

It will be interesting to see what Deans does with Beale off the bench. I wouldn't mind betting that he will come on at 10 to see who is a viable backup for Cooper (obviously Beale will be playing 15 come Tri Nations and RWC but the option would be to move Beale from 15 to 10 if Cooper needed to come off and have an outside back as a reserve). Given that Giteau is definitely an option to play 12 in the Tri Nations and RWC Deans might not want him as the backup 10 option. If Beale becomes your backup 10 after starting at 15 then you only need to carry a reserve 9 and outside back on the bench.

Go the Wallabies!

Commenter

Will

Location

Centennial Park

Date and time

July 13, 2011, 12:49PM

I don't disagree that O'Connor is a great winger with awesome ball return skills but the sooner they slot him into that inside-centre role the better, he reminds me a lot of Timmy Horan in that role and I just don't see what Pat McCabe has done to suggest he'll be better. Arguably McCabe's pace is more valuable out wide than it is between Giteau and Ashley-Cooper. I just don't understand Robbie Deans' reluctance with O'Connor, the kid has stepped up every time he's been asked to.

Commenter

Jaime

Location

Sydney

Date and time

July 13, 2011, 12:51PM

Perhaps he is worried about the small stature of the mid-field? I am wondering whether the McCabe-AAC combination is his preferred option for the centres.

Commenter

Ed

Date and time

July 13, 2011, 12:59PM

The Australian Rugby Union have a hide in asking the public to pay full freight to see what effectively is a second string selection. It is rubbish tio suggest players need to be rested after the Super 15 competition - there are professional footballers who should be prepared to play. The ARU, and Robbie Deans (who I think is a wonderful coach, and is doing good things for Rugby in this country) need to have a good look at what they are asking the public to pay for.

Commenter

Wombat

Location

North Sydney

Date and time

July 13, 2011, 1:15PM

Hey Ed - I think it's more likely that Robbie will go for Anthony Faainga and AAC in the centres, especially with the awesome defensive ability of A.Faainga. I'd also love to see O'Connor given an opportunity at inside centre - get him close to the action.Even though he's small in stature he's dynamite with strong defense to boot. Giteau's best days are behind him I'm afraid.